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Post by bluedove on Apr 12, 2009 13:08:57 GMT -5
The smallest of my mice appears to be ill... she sits hunched and her breathing appears rapid and labored. She has also lost weight...
I suspect some kind of respiratory infection, and I don't expect her to survive.
In the wild, ferrets would certainly eat sick mice... but I'm concerned that if it were contagious, it could make her sick as well. I was wondering what you more experienced breeders do in such cases?
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Post by harrisi on Apr 12, 2009 13:46:12 GMT -5
Cull, wrap, bag and bin. Ferrets would eat sickly mice in the wild but is there any point in risking it if it can be avoided? I am sure if they knew the mice were sick they wouldnt eat them! Sounds like URI, infact I am almost certain its a URI, but I would still do as above.
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Post by bluedove on Apr 12, 2009 14:12:00 GMT -5
Ok, that's what I was thinking... Thanks for the quick response!
My other females were housed with her as recently as two days ago... but they seem fine thus far. Is an Upper Respiratory Infection (I assume that's what URI is?) contagious? I'm using aspen and Kaytee Soft-sorbent bedding with them... did I potentially do something wrong to contribute to her getting sick?
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Post by harrisi on Apr 12, 2009 17:46:18 GMT -5
Its not contagious, but if they are from the same "batch" then they are likely to all have it. I dont think you did anything wrong either, Aspen is white wood or softwood so completely safe, Kaytee soft sorbent is fine aswell as its paper. Did you get them from a petstore? alot of mice from petstores are sick/inbred/line bred thats why I dont suggest starting a colony with them.
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Post by bluedove on Apr 12, 2009 19:45:54 GMT -5
They are pet-shop mice and the females all bought same time and same place. (I don't have any other choices locally...) But I have had them for over two weeks now and the others appear healthy... they have gained weight and are maintaining it. Maybe it was just the one?
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Post by whipple on Apr 14, 2009 16:42:03 GMT -5
When I buy pet store mice I try to wait it out a bit to make sure that they are healthy. I have fed a few sick mice (obviously URI) but if it seemed to be anything more then I wouldnt. I did end up with a mouse once who ended up with a gaping hole in his back. Poor thing. I was breeding for pets then and the little guy was beautiful. But the place I got him from was known for sick mice, but absolutely beautiful colors and coats. So I took my chances. Since I am breeding for feeders now though, I would want a guarentee if I bought "pets"
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Post by bluedove on Apr 18, 2009 1:34:20 GMT -5
It looks like another may be sick as well... I had hoped that enough time had passed since bringing them home that they would be healthier now... but I guess bad genes are bad genes. *sigh*
If I lose all these mice to URIs I guess I will be ordering "fancy" mice next. At least maybe they will be hardier stock to offset the cost.
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